Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-01-26
most of what happened at the bank,

noted the fact and rejoiced.
Within six weeks the shareholders
of the Mudford Chemical Company
met and resolved to 60 into liquida-
ton, and, though Mr.. Hodgson did
not think it worth while to thank the
junior clerk for the information he had
given, Tommy was perfectly satisfied.
He knew that people do not forget
things which save their pockets.
Ithappened that some months after
the incident of the Mudford Chemical
Company, Messrs. Hodgson had i'm
portant business to transactin Turin,
and it was thought advisable that the
senior partner should proceed to that
city to look after it. There was some
idea, if the prospect looked favorable,
of starting branch house there. The
question then arose which OF the clerks
should accompany the head of the
firm as his secretary, and Mr.. Hodgson,
mindful of the service which Mathers
had rendered him, consulted the head
cashier on the propriety of the selec-
tion. Parkinson, it happened had g.
favorite, of his own, and Tommy would
have lost his opportunity if he had
not remembered that at one time,
when he was bent on acquiring foreign
tongues, he had spent his evenings for
q few months over an Italian gram
mar. He contrived to let this fact be
known, and in due time Mr.. Parr in
formed his senior partner that sit
seemed that young Mathers knew
something of the Language"
This decided the point. Tommy re-
ceived his orders, and in three days
more found himself on board the Dover
and Calais packet, in charge of g. large
dispatch box and Mr.. Hodgson's
| bulky portmanteaus. The Journey
was by no means q comfortable one,
| for the young man found that he was
expected to travel second-class, and
generally act as courier to his en-
| ployer. When at last Turin was
reached, things were no better.
Mathers found that his Italian went
but a very little way; and, besides, he
had to do the work of three clerks.
Sometimes he was tempted to regret
that he had left his comfortableroom
in Torrington Square, Bloomsbury;
| but in his calmer moments he reflected
that at least he was occupying a diff
ferent position from that of the rest
OF his fellow clerks.
The chief man in Turin, so far as
Hodgson, Dunford & Parr are con-
cerned, was certain Count Marsoni.
The Counts nobility did not prevent
his being the principal member of a
large firm of merchants and ship
owners. To cultivate this man was,
indeed, the chief reason of Mr.. Hodg-
sons journey to Turin; and, as the
old banker knew very well how to lay
aside his crusty and pompous manner
when it suited his book to do so, he
soon came to be a not unfrequent
guest at the Villa Marsoni.
Mr.. Hodgson began to see that there
was very fair opening for an English
bank at Turin, and he was still en-
gagged in pushing his way here and
there, when he received news that his
wife was seriously i'll. This made him
hurry off to England, leaving Mathers
behind him to complete transaction
which he had already practically ar
ranged.
Delighted at being left to represent
the firm, for even so short time, and
In ever SO formal a manner, Mathers
was pacing one day down the princi.
pal street of the city with look of
considerable Importance on his face
when he met Count Marsoni. The
Count stopped and asked after the
old banker, when Tommy proudly in
formed him that he had returned to
England, leaving him in charge of the
affairs of the firm.
"Ah, indeed! Well, there's a little
matter | wanted to speak of to him"
81 shall be happy to serve you,
Count" said Tommy, in his very best
italian.
swell, suppose you dine with us to-
night, and we can talk it over after
dinner" returned the Count, who
thought he ought to show g. little at
tention to the lonely Englishman.
OF course the invitation was accept
ed, and Tommy had no sooner en-
tered the drawing-room at the Villa
Marsoni than he lost his heart at
once, irrevocably and forever. Maria
Marsoni was, indeed, beautiful and
vivacious enough to have turned the
head of a wiser and colder-blooded
man than Tommy Mathers; and so
ready was he to amuse her by his ef-
forts to speak language that he par
TALLY knew, that he won more favor
In the maiden's eyes than many g.
more brilliant talker would have done.
Such an impression, indeed, did the
signorina's bright eyes make upon
Tommy's heart that he was barely
able to give due attention to the
Count, when, after dinner, he began to
talk of bills, discount, mortgages and.
debentures.
Time went on; Mr.. Hodgson did not
return to Turin, and Mr.. Mathers paid
several visits to the Counts residence,
coming away more in love every time.
Meanwhile, by dint of going about con-
tinually among the citizens, the young
man was able to send home so good q
list OF prospective customers that the
partners determined to establish a
branch Office at Turin, and offer
young Mathers g. subordinate post
in it.
Nothing definite, however, had been
fixed, when one day Tommy, finding